The judge said it would "take some miracle on high" for Sitarchyk to "walk away" from his drug habit.

"I don't do cocaine no more," Sitarchyk insisted.

Lavelle said he would not send Sitarchyk to state prison for burglary and related charges stemming from Franklin Township break-ins at the Little Tiger Mini-Mart Sept. 6, 1987, and Harleman's Pharmacy May 20,1987, and the Feb. 4, 1988, burglary at Best Supply Co., Lehighton.

Charges were filed last year, when a man picked up on related charges implicated Sitarchyk and his live-in girlfriend, Ann Conroy, 25, in the burglaries. Conroy was sentenced a few weeks ago to one to two years in state prison.

Sitarchyk was sentenced Friday to 22 months to one day less four years in county jail.

The judge said he would spare Sitarchyk a state prison term because "I believe your addiction is directly related to your service in Vietnam. You were exposed to heavy drugs. You were unable to walk away from it. You and other Vietnam veterans went over there young people. You were exposed to death and misery, and you were exposed to drugs."

Sitarchyk sobbed, wiping his eyes and nose with a wad of tissues. He told Lavelle he had stopped using drugs after his two years in Vietnam. Later, he said, the craving won.

Kolosky said Sitarchyk is ill, suffering from pancreatitis and a tumor in his leg. He said he also had hepatitis and is a hemophiliac. Lavelle asked Sitarchyk if he has AIDS.

Assistant District Attorney David W. Addy said Sitarchyk and Conroy "have been a two-person crime ring in Carbon County for a long time. I've spent more time with Jack and Ann than I did with my colleagues. It's not like this is a one-shot deal."

Lavelle said he believed Sitarchyk was a "Svengali that made (Conroy) operate. You weren't a very good influence on her. Now she's in state prison. You've got to take the blame for her."

Sitarchyk bristled.

"Why?" he asked. "I'll take the blame for what I've done, but not for influencing her."

The judge said Sitarchyk has "descended to the depths. You're at the bottom of the pit right now, and you have to crawl your way out, back into the sunshine. You're a sick man. I don't doubt the sickness ... is caused" by drug addiction. "Maybe it's even affected your brain. I don't know."

In addition to the break-ins, Sitarchyk's sentence reflects the penalty for unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving while his license was suspended for drunken driving. Those charges were filed by Franklin Township police after a traffic stop March 29, 1991.